Cash-register signal.



No. 760,724. PATENTED MAY 24, 1904- W. F. BOGKHOFF.

CASH REGISTER SIGNAL.

APPLIUATION FILED JAN. 28, 1899. N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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PATENTED MAY 24, 1904.

W. F. BOGKHOPF. CASH REGISTER SIGNAL.

APPLICATION nun JAN. 28. 1899.

2 SHEETS SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

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UNITED STATES Patented May 24, 1904.

PATENT OEEICE.

WILLIAM F. BOCKHOFF, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR' TO NATIONAL-CASH- REGISTER. COMPANY, OF "JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OFNEW J ERSEY,

CASH-REGISTER SIGNAL.-

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 760,724, dated. May 24,I904. Application filed January 28, 1899. Serial No. 703 ,645. (Nomodel.)

rial No. 702, 651, I have illustrated and claimed arrangements ofseparate cash-receptacles for cash registers, a receptacle beingprovided for each clerk using the machine.

The object of my present invention is to produce means for making-adistinct signal or alarm for each receptacle, so that the entire forceof clerks in whatever portion of the establishment they may be may knowwhen and what portion of the register has been operated. The signalsbeing such as to be readily distinguishable one from the others eachclerk will thus be able to detect any fraudulent opening of hisparticular receptacle.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention.

Figure 1 is a vertical section of a register embodying my invention.Fig. 2 is a rear end elevation of the drawers. Fig. .3 is a sideelevation. Fig. 4 is a detail.

In the drawings, 5 indicates a cash-register, such as shown in my patentabove mentioned, provided withaseries of drawers or cash-receptacles 6 66 6 6, &c.. Each drawer-is provided with a latch 7 which is arranged tobe operated by one of a series of fingers 8 8 8 8', &c., carried by avertically-movable shaft 9, the movement of which is determined by meansof character-keys AB C D, &c. The particular means by which any desireddrawer may be opened is described and claimed in the patent alreadymentioned.

Secured to a suitable upright 11 in the drawer-casing is a series ofbells 12 12 12" 12' 12', &c., each of which is provided with ahammer-lever l3.

Secured to each drawer is a rearwardlyprojecting; finger '14, perforatedby one or more vertical holes, each of which is adapted to receive avertically-movable pin 15, the

lower end of each of which is normally in position to engage the lever13 of the adjacent bell and operate said lever when the drawer is pulledout. Said pins 15 are'so arranged, however, that when the drawer isclosed they ride freely over the lever 13 and then drop down intooperative position. The displacing movement of the pins 15 being upward,no springs are required; but to prevent the pins from being jumped outof finger 14: by'a sudden closing-0f the drawer I provide a guard 16,which extendsover the upper ends of the pins in position to prevent themfrom low-- ing the finger.

Eaclrfinger let is provided with as many' of bells, a'll the bells ofeach set having a sound distinctly different from the bells of either ofthe other sets. The first drawer of each set is then provided with onepin 15, the

second with two, and the third with three.

If desired, of course, each bell may have a distinctive sound or all thebells may have the same sound and each drawer be provided with p adifferent number or grouping of pins 15.

In the use of machines of this kind it often occurs that one or more ofthe clerks or' the proprietor is at some distance from the machine. Ihave therefore provided a central signal-station 16 in the present caseprovided with a series of distinguishable electric bells 17 17 17" 17'17"", corresponding in numher to the drawers or receptacles. Locatedwithin the drawer casing near each drawer is a spring-terminal 18 and astiff terminal 19, the two being suitably connected through a battery toone of the bells 17 Each drawer carries one or more pins 20, which arearranged to engage the spring-terminal 18 and force it into engagementwith terminal 19. If desired, each drawer may be provided with adifferent number of pins 20, so that each drawer when operated willcause a characteristic number of rings of its bell. In this case asingle bell connected to all of the terminals 18 and 19 may be used, ifdesired.

The operation is as follows: Clerk B having made a sale operates his owncharacterkey B, thus turning shaft 9 until the linger 8 comes intooperative position beneath the latch 7 of the drawer 6. A furtheroperation of the machine lifts the shaft, thus lifting latch 7 andreleasing the drawer. As soon as the drawer is released the pins 15,carried by said drawer, are successively brought into engagement withthe adjacent lever 13 and the corresponding bell rung as many times asthere are pins 15,thus givingasignal which is readilydistinguishable asthe signal of drawer 6. The forward movement of the drawer also bringspin 20 into engagement with the springterminal 18 and forces saidterminal against terminal 19, thus causing bell 17 at the centralstation to ring. Bell 17 willof course be rung as many times as thereare pins 20 on drawer 6. When the drawer is closed, pins 20 moveterminal 18 away from terminal 19, so that bell 17 does not sound. Aspins 15 are brought back into engagement with lever 13 they are forcedupward thereby and then drop back into place, the guard 16 preventingsaid pins from being jumped out of their carrying-finger.

\Vith the mechanism described it becomes practically impossible for anyclerk to beat the machine, for each clerk will soon become accustomed tothe sound of his own signal and no other clerk will dare to open thedrawer of any other clerk owing-to the risk of immediate detection. Itwill be readily understood that my device is applicable tocashrecorders, such as machines known as manual recorders.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a cash-register, the combination with aseries of cash-receptacles, means for predetermining which receptaclewill be exposed, devices dependent upon the further operation of themachine for exposing the receptacle, a series of characteristic signalslocated within the machine, a series of characteristic signals locatedat a distance from the machine, and mechanism for operating therespective signals when a cash-receptacle is exposed upon the regularoperation of the machine.

2. In a cash-register, the combination with a series ofcash-receptacles, of means for rendering any desired receptacleaccessible,acous tic alarms located within the machine, acoustic alarmslocated at a distance from the machine, and mechanism intermediate thecashdrawers and the respective alarms, whereby a characteristic alarm issounded both at the machine and at a distance for each receptacle madeaccessible.

3. In a cash register or recorder having a plurality of receptacles andmeans for rendering any desired receptacle accessible, a plurality ofdistinguishable audible signals arranged in the machine, means foroperating the corresponding signal for each receptacle when madeaccessible, a distant-signaling device, and connections between saiddistantsignaling device and the receptacles whereby saiddistant-signaling device will give a characteristic signal for eachreceptacle made accessible.

1. In a cash-register, the combination with a series ofcash-receptacles, of means for predetermining which receptacle will beexposed, devices dependent upon the further operation of the machine forexposing the receptacle, a series of characteristicmechanically-operated signals located within the machine, a series ofcharacteristic electrically-operated signals located at a distance fromthe machine, and mechanism for operating the respective signals When acash-receptacle is exposed upon the regular operation of the machine.

5. In a cash register or recorder, the combination with a plurality ofcash-receptacles, means for predetermining which receptacle will beexposed, devices dependent upon the further operation of the machine forexposing the selected receptacle, electric-signaling mechanism locatedat a distance from the machine, and connections between saiddistantsignaling mechanism and the several cash-receptacles, arranged togive a characteristic signal when each receptacle is made accessibleupon the operation of the machine, with provisions for preventingoperation of said signal mechanism when the previously-opcned receptacleis closed.

6. In a cash register or recorder having a plurality of drawers andmeans for opening any desired drawer, an electric-signaling device, apair of terminals arranged adjacent each drawer, connections betweensaid terminals and signaling device, and means carried by each drawerfor engaging one of the adjacent terminals,the said means of each drawerbeing such that each drawer will cause a characteristic number ofoperations of the signal, and the arrangement being such that the signalwill be operated by a movement of the drawer in one direction only.

7. In a cash-register, the combination with a series ofcash-receptacles, of a series of characteristically differentiatedsignals located within the machine, a series of correspondingcharacteristically-differentiated signals located at a distance from themachine, and mechanism for operating the respective signals when thecorresponding cash-receptacle is rendered accessible.

WILLIAM F. BOCKHOFF. Witnesses:

ARTHUR M. 1100]), FRANK A. FABLE.

